Over 60 Southeast Asian lawmakers commit to promoting a sustainable and just economic recovery from COVID-19

Daily life amid coronavirus pandemic in Banda Aceh

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CCHR | Statements

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Dec 3, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its devastating impact on Southeast Asia’s economy, more than 60 members of parliament from across the region have signed a manifesto committing to use their positions to advance a recovery from the health crisis that promotes a sustainable, just and human rights-centered economy.

“One of the immediate things to clearly emerge from the COVID19 pandemic is the complete failure and fragility of our current economic system that did not protect the most vulnerable, and instead deepened inequalities,” said Charles Santiago, a Malaysian Member of Parliament (MP) and chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR). “Don’t be fooled by anyone who pretends otherwise, to guarantee a more stable recovery there is no other way than to break away from the past and shift towards a just, sustainable and people-centered economy.”

Measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic have had a devastating impact on the region’s economy. As the region emerges from the crisis, governments will have to take unprecedented measures to build back better and stronger.

Shifting towards a greener economy that boosts decent employment, offers social protection for all, and sustainable access to essential goods will not only help the region to more rapidly absorb the immediate impact of the recession, it will also make it better prepared for future similar shocks, said APHR.

It is also critical that the region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 does not jeopardize climate action efforts but rather ensure reduced emissions in compliance with the Paris Agreement, APHR added.

“Our environmentally-destructive economic system is a major cause behind the crises we are facing today, whether its pandemics or climate change” said Sarah Elago, a Philippine MP and APHR member. “COVID-19 is nothing compared to the crises that await us if we don’t drastically change course. As a matter of urgency we must ensure a sustainable economic recovery that limits climate change, deforestation and all other harmful forms of environmental destruction.”

The pandemic also revealed the need to better expand social protection to all and protect the region’s workers. This includes the region’s 6.9 million intra-regional migrant workers, and an unknown number of informal migrants.

A healthy and resilient workforce is the backbone of an effective economic recovery. Yet, many are often subjected to unsafe and exploitative working conditions which have been exacerbated during the pandemic, APHR said.

“It is intolerable that the heaviest impact from this crisis is being felt by those already most marginalised: migrants, refugees, indigenous and LGBTQIA persons, those in the informal economy, women, those with disabilities and many more” said Francisca Castro, Member and the Parliament of the Philippines and of APHR.

“In this manifesto, we recognise that it is our responsibility, as lawmakers, to ensure that they do not bear a disproportionate impact from this crisis by providing adequate public services and social protection for all, not just during crises but consistently and permanently” added Francisca Castro.

The parliamentary manifesto is open to signature from all lawmakers in Southeast Asia and can be found here: https://aseanmp.org/activities/covid-19-manifesto/

If you’re a current or former MP and would like to sign the manifesto, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Click here to read the manifesto in Khmer

Click here to read the manifesto in Malay

Click here to read the manifesto in Bahasa Indonesia

Click here to read the manifesto in Thai

Click here to read the manifesto in Tetum

Signatories of the Manifesto: